Lectures, Seminars + Clinics

Presented by Nancy Dewhirst RDH, BS.

Presentations are designed specifically for each event, from 2
to 6 hours. Topics may be combined and may be designed with varying amounts of participation.All seminars are appropriate for Doctors, Hygienists, and Assistants.

Participation Workshops

A variety of infection control products and approaches are
presented in this lively and interactive hands-on workshop. Basic disease transmission and infection control are explored in light of current documented knowledge while using products as instructional tools. Misconceptions and common problems will be discussed, along with potential implications and consequences. The program is intended to help participants get maximum effectiveness from their infection control efforts. See (with glow-germs and other activities) how different techniques and products work for you!
Learning Objectives
• Explain basic principles of infection control
• Evaluate best practices in hand hygiene
• Compare and evaluate personal protective equipment (PPE) products and practices
• Assess options for optimal environmental asepsis
• Discuss instrument sterilization technology and practices
• Evaluate strategies to manage dental waterline asepsis
• Consider sharps safety protocol
• Maximize effectiveness of infection control efforts.

Shorter version:

- Understand the application of various infection control principles based on accumulated evidence

- Compare the variety of acceptable product choices and their appropriate applications based on science

- Discuss potential implications of product misuse

Instrument Sharpening, Never A Dull Moment

This workshop demonstrates how to preserve the original instrument design and shape while creating sharp edges, using a variety of hand and mechanical techniques and devices, loupes and lights. A slide presentation and interactive dialogue lay the groundwork for clinical instruction and participant practice, using hand sharpening techniques and several mechanical instrument sharpeners with magnification. Understanding of the key geometrical relationships between instrument surfaces and edges will help attendees be successful using hand and mechanical sharpening techniques and devices.

Learning Objectives:
Attendees will:

Learn optimal periodontal instrument designs

Understand how to preserve optimal instrument design while sharpening

Discuss objectives and goals of sharpening

Practice with and compare various hand sharpening techniques

Practice with and compare various mechanical sharpening technology and techniques

Topic areas:

- Design of representative periodontal instruments

- Techniques to sharpen and preserve periodontal instruments with a stone

Ergonomics: It’s A Balancing Act

Pathogenesis, causes and prevention of various cumulative trauma disorders are discussed, with special focus on upper extremity, spinal and joint pathologies. Preventive strategies are evaluated, including enhanced visualization, chair and equipment design, and body positioning and conditioning. Attendees participate in stretching and strengthening exercises and leave with a plan to reduce pain and fatigue, while optimizing personal career longevity.

Learning Objectives:
Attendees will:

- Evaluate various physical signs and symptoms of cumulative trauma disorders commonly found in dental workers

Active Seminars

Annual OSHA Training & Update – A Roadmap to Safety

Managing all aspects of your office safety can be confusing. This class focuses your efforts on what you need for your written and practical OSHA program, with an emphasis on today’s infection control challenges. reviews and updates OSHA-required training topics for ordinary and extraordinary situations, including general safety issues such as physical and chemical risks, infectious disease transmission and control, hazard communication and waste.
Attendees learn ways improve the effectiveness of Standard Precautions, while adjusting for higher risks such as aerosol transmitted diseases (ATD’s). Handouts and references are provided.
Learning Objectives: Attendees will review required training topics and identify the need to update or change their OSHA injury and illness prevention program.

Hot Topics in Infection Control

Update and review today’s most important clinical safety issues - This class gives you a “Hit List” of the most important things to do! Apply professional standards and strategies, including CDC Guidelines and State regulations for Infection Control to everyday and extraordinary risks. Updates include safety challenges such as aerosol transmitted diseases (ATD’s) and evolving / resistant pathogens.
Hot Topics in Infection ControlLearning Objectives - Attendees will:

Create a culture of safety in your office, without creating a "culture of slow"! When time and cost impact your infection control decisions, personal safety for clinicians and patients should not be compromised. This course explores time and cost-efficient infection control options.

- Learn strategies and techniques to maximize your clinical safety in the most effortless and time-efficient ways.

- Compare the effectiveness of various safety strategies

- Learn the most common mistakes we make that put us and our patients at risk

Standing up to Emerging Diseases

Slide presentation with possible hands-on participation
This seminar explores personal health issues such as new and altered diseases of importance to dental professionals including bloodborne diseases, respiratory and contact diseases. Attention is given to resistant pathogens and biofilm diseases. These issues are discussed relative to occupational risk, illness prevention, and post exposure responses. Leave with a plan for managing today’s microbial challenges using Standard and Transmission-based precautions.
Demonstrations and activities are possible in smaller groups.

Learning Objectives - Attendees will:

- Recognize and assess well-known infectious diseases

- Be able to identify and explain current trends in infectious diseases

- Be informed of and prepared for unexpected risks

- Apply infection control and safety strategies to usual and unusual disease risks

- Learn how to assess a patient’s risk for oral cancer using standardized tools.

Bumps and Lumps: What’s HPV Got To Do With It?

Slide presentation, participation
This is a review and update of infectious, neoplastic and immune-related oral pathology; lesions and lumps tell stories! This course uses the dynamic process of evaluating case studies using various diagnostic techniques. Learn the value and process of providing oral pathology risk assessment for every patient. Attendees participate in discovery of differential diagnosis and treatment recommendations.

Are You Disaster-Ready? (Dentistry’s Role in Preparedness)

Let’s kick start your personal and professional readiness! Leave with a “Ready 2 Go!” back pack – and a plan! Participants learn how to use their skills, training and experience to prepare for, assess and respond to disasters. Shelter-in-place or evacuation strategies and scenarios are presented for a variety of situations; including natural disasters such as earthquakes and man-made disasters including accidental or purposeful chemical or radiation exposure, terrorist acts of violence, fire and explosions. Leave with a plan, resources and your own survival back-pack with some essential supplies to get you started!
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize types of disasters

- Describe various courses of action related to these disasters
- Identify primary and secondary biological / disease threats related to disasters
- Learn about options for personal and local planning
- Begin the process of preparing a survival pack

The Secret Lives of Biofilms

2 – 4 hours, Slide presentation

Microbial biofilms are interesting and important! Understanding
biofilms leads to better management and control of human and
animal health and disease. Biofilms are vital to life but may be an important source of disease and contamination in fluids, equipment, and natural or built
environments. This seminar explores methods, strategies and
products to prevent, remove, and manage unwanted biofilms in dental
buildings and equipment, and addresses biofilm infections of
dental relevance.
Learning Objectives: Attendees will:

- Understand the microbial and physical nature of biofilms

- Identify known risks and benefits of biofilms in various settings

- Discuss biofilm diseases

- Be able to apply strategies to manage dental office reservoirs for biofilms

- Find resources and products to continue learning about biofilms

Required California Courses

Infection Control

Update your knowledge of the most important issues in clinical safety. Are you clear on how to handle ordinary and extraordinary infectious diseases? This class outlines the essential components of your infection control program: reviewing CDC Guidelines and State regulations for Infection Control. Updates include challenges such as aerosol transmitted diseases (ATD’s) and evolving / resistant pathogens.Learning Outcomes - Upon completion, the participant shall be able to:

California Dental Practice Act: Where's the Line? 2018

This seminar reviews the DPA topics and regulations that are required for re-licensure. Attendees will share stories and ideas about violations of the law or questions about the legality of conditions or scenarios and will receive a handout that references the information presented. After attending the course, attendees will be familiar with the scope of regulations addressed in the DPA, how those regulations define dental practice limits, how to find answers to legal questions addressed by the DPA, and how the California Dental Board enforces the DPA and where to locate resources to further their knowledge in this topic. Learning Outcomes - Upon completion, the participant shall be able to: